Trio Joubran - The Long March CD (Mega Blowout Sale)
SKU
23-Cook CD 706
“One of the more challenging tasks in band arrangement is the use of multiple instrumentalists who play the same instrument. In any genre or any style, that will be tough. Le Trio Joubran is a fascinating group structured around three very skilled oud players. How does that work? How can that work? The too obvious joke would be, with great difficulty, but the more serious answer is the arrangement of each piece such that the principals play around each other rather than stepping on each others’ lines. That’s usually the way to go anyway.
Nevertheless, the oud is not an instrument with much sustain, nor capacity for tonal variation. There is great melodic and rhythmic potential, but three instruments without much sustain, nor ability to control tone all interacting? That is a hard arrangement task, resolved on this interesting album through sparse arrangements, subtle accompaniment, and even some electronics and studio trickery to keep the sonic palate from remaining too monotonous. Without these elements, one would be left with just three oud players trading lead lines in ways that would be flashy, potentially amusing to those who like showy music, but artistically a little flat. Instead, the album has some vitality to it, a range of sounds, and real movement throughout.
In fact, the three principals mostly restrain themselves from the temptation of flashy lead lines. How difficult is that? That’s hard to say, but listening to the almost meditative quality of much of the music, it would have been undercut by brash soloing, so one applauds the restraint and willingness to serve the compositions.”
- LabelCooking Vinyl
- UPC711297520620